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Throughout the forecast period the changing extent of sea-ice and the variation of the ice shelf with time have important effects upon the energy and moisture balance at the atmosphere/surface boundary. The ice extent will change through the forecast period in response to sea temperatures and air temperatures, ocean currents and wind.  Melt ponds existing or forming on otherwise extensive sea ice can reduce albedo locally.

The impacts of differently-evolving SST and ice cover distributions should be considered when comparing different forecasts, even when they are from the same data time.

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